My first partsocaster build

[the_stoot64]

This whole project started when someone gave me a pick guard and a Tele body. Halfway through the body turned out to be a problem so I bought another from Warmoth.

Hardware and Electronics:
Tuners and bridge are Gotoh. Fast Track 1, Cruiser Bridge, and Cruiser Neck from DiMarzio. I chose blade type to eliminate the problem of one string being closer to a pole than another.

Body:
I ended up going with Swamp Ash. I'd love the brightness of the Maple body I was considering, and don't care about the weight, but Ash was cheaper faced
Obviously routed for Strat.

Colour and Finish:
FeastWatson stain, Golden Teak. Wipe it on, wait a few minutes, wipe it off. Up close it looks a bit dodge, but from a few feet away it looks fine. The clear finish is Satin Poly in an aerosol can. I only did four coats on both the neck and body, probably should have done more as they both still feel like wood.

Electronics:
From the research I did, I don't think anyone has gone for these switching options. Each pickup has it's own volume control with push/pull for coil splitting, then a standard 5 way switch. Apart from wiring the switch the wrong way around, it all worked first go!

The finished product!!!

End result:
I forgot to get neck bolts, when they arrive I'll get some strings on and give it a whirl, but everything seems to line up and is in working order.

I know it's not to everyone's taste, but I was hoping to ruffle a few purist's feathers :tongue

 

[Deed_Poll]

That pickguard: kill it with fire!

Otherwise I bet that will be a great 12. Enjoy!

 

[Deed_Poll]

P.s. why not make the switch like a varitone? You already have a volume for each pickup so any combination is already possible?

 

[Tweedman]

That pickguard: kill it with fire!

Otherwise I bet that will be a great 12. Enjoy!

Soak it in gas first!!

Seriously, do you realize how much better it would look with a white or black pickguard on it? Just sayin'.

 

[Deed_Poll]

I think it would be worth having a custom pickguard made with the top horn like a Tele, the Strat horn is just a bit too thin and pointy to work IMO.

 

[zztomato]

Ick! Sorry.
Do you have a wife or a friend with good color/fashion/design sense? Go get them.

Is there a reason for separate volume controls? So, no tone control then?

 

[the_stoot64]

I never use the tone controls on any of my guitars, so I didn't bother putting them in.

The 5 way switch is really just to fill the hole, and I couldn't be bothered modifying the guard.

Regarding the colour schemes: the whole project is designed to sound good, and visually annoy people. So far it's working

 

[zztomato]

I bet eventually it will also annoy yourself.

 

[_hi.fi]

That pickguard: kill it with fire!


+ 1. Absolutely horrible pickguard!!!!

 

[jamester]

Regarding the colour schemes: the whole project is designed to sound good, and visually annoy people.

Well in that case, you nailed it! ;-)

For me, a boring black pickguard would make all the difference. I think it's not just that particular pickguard, but the fact that it's on a stained body. If the body were black, might be a completely different story...

 

[Member 132475]

Interesting concept, and I'm curious about what it will sound like, but, in line with what others have mentioned, you could need some constructive input in the aesthetics department. Diplomatically speaking of course.

 

[VHS analog]

does anybody make a hybrid tele/strat pickguard? (in a plain color)

 

[BenAtPerformer]

Man, that's fugly.

 

[Matt Novak]

Need to finish this one off, but thought I'd show some ''ugly'' tele solidarity:

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[the_stoot64]

Need to finish this one off, but thought I'd show some ''ugly'' tele solidarity:

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I like that apart from the headstock

 

[Ape Factory]

I think I had a sweater in that color/pattern at some point in the mid-80's.

 

[Deed_Poll]

does anybody make a hybrid tele/strat pickguard? (in a plain color)

I had a look and couldn't find one, funny though because there seem to be a few Tele style guards for Strats but none the other way around. I'm actually amazed at how well the guard works around the bass side of the body and at the waist of the treble side, but the horn and cutaway just don't line up. It should be a fairly simple job for any custom pickguard maker to make one that will fit.

 

[TheFlyingBear]

does anybody make a hybrid tele/strat pickguard? (in a plain color)

Warmoth:
http://www.warmoth.com/Pickguard/HybridTelePickguard.aspx

Not sure if it would fit or not, as it's designed for Warmoth's Tele/Strat Hybrid body. They have a full size pdf you can print to check though.

It can also be ordered without the switch holes, so the OP could just use the 3 volume knobs and ditch the switch.

 

[aarontunes]

Warmoth:
http://www.warmoth.com/Pickguard/HybridTelePickguard.aspx

Not sure if it would fit or not, as it's designed for Warmoth's Tele/Strat Hybrid body. They have a full size pdf you can print to check though.

It can also be ordered without the switch holes, so the OP could just use the 3 volume knobs and ditch the switch.

This.

It looks like the body in the OP is a Warmoth Hybrid Tele, with a 12-String bridge rout. If so, then the Warmoth Hyrbird Tele pickguard is designed to fit it.

 

[edgarallan]

Regarding the colour schemes: the whole project is designed to sound good, and visually annoy people. So far it's working

With all due respect...
If you don't want to entertain, inspire or impress people and just plain annoy them, go all the way then and play in G when the band is paying in E. That'll surely annoy some folks.

C'mon man all that nice work and you are going to mess it with a snakeskin guard?

Anyway, nice work on the body stain, looks killer!